Gympie Valley Rattler

Gympie Qld 4570 (Pop 14 000)

Gympie is an historic former gold mining town on the Sunshine Coast 167 km north of Brisbane. Named after the Aboriginal word ‘gimpi gimpi’ for a local stinging tree, it is scenically located on the Mary River. Mining continued until 1925 when dairying and agriculture industries took over. Today cattle, pigs and tropical fruits & vegetables are also important industries. Gympie markets 2^nd & 4^th Sun each month. Country Music Muster (Aug), Gold Rush Festival (Oct).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Mary Valley Heritage Railway aka the 'Valley Rattler' superbly restored 1923 steam train operating between Gympie and Imbil each Sat/Sun/Wed. Stops throughout the scenic 40 km Mary Valley ride include Dagun, Amamoor and Kandanga. The Wood Works Forestry & Timber Museum, Fraser Rd one of Australia’s finest working museums with interesting historic timber displays, equipment, buildings & demonstrations. Historic Gympie includes the Court House (1900), Australian Hotel (1883), Stock Exchange and Town Hall. Public Gallery, Nash St hosts local and visiting art exhibitions in a heritage building.

Nearby: 
Gympie Gold and Mining Museum (5 km south) outstanding folk museum complex comprising a large range of historic buildings including Andrew Fisher House (home of first Queenslander to become prime minister) and Retort House, the only mining building left in Gympie. The complex also features a military museum, railway and dairying displays. Open (9am-4.30pm) daily. Amamoor State Forest (30 km south) Home to 120 species of wildlife including the platypus in the protected woodlands,   bushwalks & Country Music Muster i(each Aug). Mothar Mountain (20 km s-e) lovely rock pools and forest pockets ideal for bushwalking and offering excellent views. Imbil (36 km south) charming town with interesting Sunday markets, lovely valley views, a superb 14 km forest drive and nearby Lake Borumba for great fishing and water activities.

Accommodation:
Gympie has 8 motels, a dozen hotels and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centres: Bruce Hwy. Tel (07) 5483 6411 & Mary St. Tel (07) 5483 6659 or 1800 444 222.